Cone House
Carpenters employed by copper king Marcus Daly built this vernacular (builder-designed) cottage circa 1890 for Patrick H. “Pat” Cone, his wife Jennie, and son Frank. One of the town’s first cottages, it exemplifies the comfortable, yet modest homes characteristic of early Hamilton. Pat established a brickyard west of town in September 1890 and eventually supplied millions of bricks to construct downtown Hamilton’s first commercial buildings. He also made the bricks for the Missoula Mercantile and the University of Montana. Pat died in 1901, but Jennie and Frank continued in residence. Frank held many government positions including district court clerk and U.S. Surveyor General. He also served one term in the Montana House of Representatives, two terms in the Montana Senate, and six terms as its secretary. He and his wife Mae raised three children here. After he died in a 1933 car accident, one eulogy praised Frank’s character, noting that he always “kept his regard for his fellow men apart from political rancor or prejudice.” Mae moved to Los Angeles by 1934 but kept the home until 1943.
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